Bttckle



Sept 5, 1932 A. H. KERNGOOD 1,875,319

BUCKLE Filed July 19, 1930 l I l Patented Slept. 6, 1,932

UNITED STATES orifice,

ALLEN H. KERN GOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO .ALMA*MANUFAC'IUR` ING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE'CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION F MARYLAND BUCKLE Applicationy led July 19,

Buckles for belts and other articles, owing to changing fads or styles, have been pro-- duced in various configurations, designs, and constructions. Buckles having initials variously produced, are common, these initials being made with or fixed to or engraved or embossed upon the face plate, for purposes of identification as well as for ornamental eect. Another fad or style has ordained that the tongue shall be fiat or rectangular instead of round, in cross section, to engage corresponding holes in the belt or other article; and since such buckles are without a face plate, the use of initials or other insignia or designs has been largely outlawed, and yet such insignia is demanded by the trade. 'Io meet this demand,

I have invented a tongue buckle in which the tongue is rectangular in cross section and the leading or exposed end of the tongue is flat, which flat end is' appropriately supported upon a fiat end cross bar o-f the buckle frame, and has applied to it an identification mark, such as an initial or other figure or configuration or device, ornamental or otherwise, which preferably is produced in the formation or manufacture of the buckle tongue, as I will proceed now to explain more fully and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a perspective view of one form of flat buckle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the buckle applied to the opposite ends of a belt.

In the construction illustrated as embodying one form of my invention, the frame comprises a rear cross bar l from which rise the side bars 2, and these side bars are provided with the front fiat cross bar 3 preferably having a guarded seat 4 for the reception of the leading flat free end 5 of the tongue 6, which tongue is hinged or pivoted at its opposite end 7 to the cross bar 1.

As will be observed, the cross bar l is on a lower plane than the cross bar 3, and to-meet this condition, which is serviceable in the passage through the buckle of the free end of the 50 belt, the tongue rises in a curved plane from 1930. serial 110.469,119.

the lower cross bar 1 to which it is pivotedl to the flat cross bar 3 which is at ahigher elevation, as indicated more particularly in Figs.

The leading `endr5 of the tongue is broadened and stands off liatfrom the body of the tongue, so Vas to fit down squarely in the por'- tion 4 of the cross bar 3 and thus avoids any projecting points as well as insures the'tongue ragainst unnecessary or accidental sidewise movement. 1 g

As will be noted, the tongue is of rectangular -cross'section, instead ofthe customary round or circular cross section, and it is designed to engage rectangular -holes 8 in a belt end 9. The other end 10 of the belt is looped or sewed or otherwise fastened around the cross bar l.

The fiat leading end of the tongue is supplied with an initial, such as the letter R, des- "i0 ignated 11. This initial, of course, may be made of any style and produced by stencilling, stamping, embossing, engraving or other means, and in a permanent manner. Initial buckles are quite popular and in demand, but usually the initials are applied in such way as to increase the cost of manufacture, whereas in my invention there is no material additional cost, since the initialling device may be one or part of one of the forming dies "go used to produce the tongue.

The invention is not limited to the application of a letter to the tongue, but such letter may be replaced by any insignia or design.

The feature of the invention is the use on the exposed portion of a flat tongue of an initial, insignia or design that preferably denotes ownership.

Variations in the details of construction are permissible Within the principle of the invention and the claims following.

What I claim is 1. A buckle, having a frame provided with a fiat cross bar at its front, and a cross bar at its rear and located in a plane lower than 'the front cross bar, and a tongue of rectangular cross section pivoted to said rear cross bar and having an elevated broad fla-t leading end of a size to be passed through an opening in a belt and lie on top of said front cross bar 10G and provided with an identification mark eX- posed to view when the buckle is in use.

2. A buckle, provided With a frame havin 'a round cross bar at its rear end and a broa flat cross bar at its front end at an elevation above the rear cross bar, and a tongue reotangula-r in cross `section and pivoted lat one end to the round ero-ss bar and curved upwardly toward the front Cross bar and terminating in a leading broad free endV of a size to be passed throughan opening in ay beltandy lie upon the flat cross bar and exposed thereon in use, and said exposed leading end pro- Vvided with an ornamental device.

3. A buckle, having a. frame provided with a front flat cross bar having aguarded seat `therein and -a rear cross bar, and .a tongue iteotangular in eross section 4and pivoted to the rear cross bar, said tongue having a broadened leading end thatis Hat andof a Size to enter a preformed Opening` in .an .ar- .ticle to be buckled, said leading end resting within said guarded seat of the Vfi'ontrflat o I-oss bal,- and exposed thereon when in use, ,suchXposed broadened and flat end of the tongue having an initial made as a permanent part thereof and visible thereon.

v In', testpimony Whereofl have hereunto set my hand this 18th vday of July A. D. 1930, ALLEN H.- KERNGOOD. 

